Toshiba Portege R700-15T - Insert SIM

[RPG]

I have a Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G broadband ExpressCard with a SIM on the Mobile Broadband Standard 3GB 18m contract.

Everything has been working fine on the old laptop, using the ExpressCard.

I've just bought a new Toshiba Portege R700-15T which has a builtin 3G modem. I've taken the SIM out of the ExpressCard and put it directly into the new laptop. When I boot it up the laptop simply says No SIM inserted.

I've also got a Vodafone Pay as You Go USB stick with SIM. Tried that one and again it says No SIM inserted.

Lastly (in desperation) I took the SIM out of my O2 contract phone and put that in the laptop. As soon as it booted up it asked which profile I wanted to use (presumably got that info from the SIM) and worked fine.

I've spend over half an hour on the phone to Vodafone support who say that it is a problem with the laptop, take it back to the shop!

Anybody got any ideas / advice on how to get this working?

Richard

[Retired-Martin]

Hi RPG

Welcome to the eForum it is always good to see new faces on here.

I have to admit it does sound strange that this is happening.

Have you tried using this with a dongle? does it work.

I am not sure why the laptop wouldn't recognise the SIM, was the computer supplied by o2? as there could be a small possibility that it could be locked to just them.


Martin
eForum Team

[RPG]

OK - things getting better but still not working.

I tried the Pay As You Go SIM again in the laptop and this time it worked - maybe I inserted it the wrong way last time .

I then tried the Pay As You Go SIM in the USB stick on a different laptop - worked fine.

Tried the Contract SIM in the USB stick - worked fine.

But the Contract SIM will NOT work in the new Toshiba laptop.

I still think this is a SIM card issue. The two SIMs do look different (well the markings on the chip anyway). See attached. The one on the left works fine in the Toshiba (Pay As You Go). The one on the right (Contact) does not work. The O2 SIM I have looks more like the one on the left, and again that O2 SIM works.

Any thoughts?

BTW - The laptop is not part of an O2 deal - brand new from Misco - http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=466380&CatId=3589

[Retired-Dave]

Hi rpg,

You certainly wouldsn't be the first person to put in a SIM the wrong way around, so don't worry there!

I'm wondering if there are some initial default modem settings that the contract SIM does not like. such as the APNs.

If you set up VMC on the laptop - download the latest version (9.4.6) here - and use this to connect, can you then pull up the APNs from the menu and confirm what's showing there for me? These should be

APN: Internet
username: web
password: web

Alternatively, you can ensure the internal modem is set up correctly and connect manually when wanted:

-Go to Start > Control Panel
-Double Click on phone and modem
-If it asks for location info then fill this in
-Click on the modems tab
-Highlight the Sony Modem and click properties
-Click on Change settings then on Advanced
-In the extra initialisation command field type in at+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet" (add pp. before internet if this is PAYG)
-Press OK, then OK again
-Double Click Network and Sharing Centre
-Click on Setup a New Connection or Network
-Choose Connect to the internet
-Choose Create a New Connection
-Choose Dial-up connection
-Choose the Sony modem as the modem to connect with
-It will ask for the following details
-Phone number:*99#
-Username:web
-Password:web
-Connection name:Vodafone
-Create the connection

These should enable you to connect - if not, then I'd suggest popping into a store so they cabn test another contract SIM for you, just to rule that out.

Let us know how you get on.

DaveN

eForum Team

[RPG]

Have downloaded VMC 9.4.6 and under Diagnostocs -> Networks it lists the APN settings as:
APN -> internet
Username -> web
Password -> ???

However, I am not sure that is the problem. The laptop (and VMC software) will see the built-in mobile device but does NOT see the Contract SIM card. The Toshiba software simply says No SIM and the VMC under Mobile Connections says "please Insert SIM".

If you look closely at the two SIM cards I posted earlier they do look different. The chip on the contract SIM (the SIM card on the right of the picture) is a lot further over to the side than the other one.

What else can I try?

[Retired-Reidar]

Hello RPG

I'm afraid in terms of PC settings there doesn't appear to be much else we can do, I am beginning to suspect that the actual sim is not being picked up due to some physical differences/attributes.

One option may be to go into a Vodafone store and have a sim replacement done, this would be the quickest way, i would compare the PAYG sim structure in store with any replacement sim you are about to be given, just to make sure the metalic contact surface is identical.

Reidar

eForum Team

[RPG]

As I thought - SIM card problem.

I went into the Vodafone shop in Taunton and spoke to a very helpful young chap. Explained the problem that Contract SIM did not work in new laptop but Pay As You Go SIM did work in new laptop.

He agreed it could not be a laptop problem so changed the contract SIM and it worked straight away.